OT: Bare essential for HD question

RafalK wrote on 6/6/2005, 9:57 AM

This is the equipment I will be getting soon:
Sony HDR-FX1/ZU
Faster computer
upgrade to Vegas 6

Besides those three components, is there anything else that I abslutely need to work with HD? I'm stricly looking whether the three items above are bare essentials or do I need to purchase anything else.

Thanks.

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/6/2005, 10:05 AM

These are the "bare" essentials.
You'll want either an LCD monitor that can manage at least 1280 x 800, but if you want to do 1080i media, you'll want a monitor that can do 1900 x 1200. (Fairly expensive still)
A RAID 0, either software or hardware controlled is a big benefit. have at least 2 large drives, more are preferable.
Consider buying the standalone Cineform Connect HD for Vegas.

Coursedesign wrote on 6/6/2005, 10:45 AM

For many people, it will be fine to use a screen with a resolution that is less than the native resolution, so if you have to use a screen that is say 1280x800 or 1600x1200, that will still allow decent editing. Remember that 1080i cameras (except one that I know of) shoot in at best 1440x1080 with elongated pixels (and the FX1/Z1 less than that, with a pixel offset twist).

I would rather have a lower res screen with a greater density range and a good color profile than a high res screen with gray blacks and a poor color space.

There is a risk with not using the native output pixel resolution, but for most people I don't think it will be worth the thousands of dollars extra.

I'm viewing 1080i on a 110" 720p screen at home, nobody has complained about it having the wrong resolution, it just looks damn good (thanks to good care in the all-digital signal chain).

Wolfgang S. wrote on 6/6/2005, 12:05 PM

Gearshift would be a great additional investment - and a good mjpeg-avi codec for the proxys (maybe the codec by PIC).

RafalK wrote on 6/6/2005, 2:09 PM

Great. Thank you guys for taking your time to answer my question.